Brayden couldn’t stop talking about the cookout all

day, so as soon as he saw the guys come outside

he yelled into the house “Momma they’re there lets

go.” And was across the yard before I could stop

him. I shook my head as I followed him to find

Justin swinging him around in circles making

Brayden giggle. I smiled “I’m sorry guys he’s been

so excited all day that he’s been waiting on the

patio for you guys to come outside.”I said. “Don’t

worry about it you guys are welcome here whenever

you want.”J.C. said. “Thanks.”I said smiling at him.

“Well since you’re here you might as well stick

around.”Lance said as he caught the football Chris

threw at him. “I guess.”I sighed as Lynn walked out

into the yard. “Abby hey! Glad you could make

it.”Lynn said grinning at me. “Well I didn’t really

have a choice did I?”I said glaring at her making

her laugh. “Momma daddy and I are going to play

 catch come play with us!”Brayden exclaimed

running over to me. “Uh… Why don’t you play with

daddy and I’ll come over in a little bit.”I said

glancing up at Justin. “Okay.”Brayden said not

fazed by my hesitation. “Things still tense between

you two?”J.C. asked sitting down beside me. “Yeah,

I mean I know how I feel, but all I know about him

is that he said he was upset over the situation and

he didn’t know how long it would take him to get

over it.”I said quietly making sure Justin wasn’t

listening. “I really wouldn’t worry about it he’s

beating himself up over it.”J.C. said as I looked at

him in disbelief. “I find that really hard to believe.”I

said as Lynn jumped in “It’s true, he’s just

stubborn.”Lynn almost sang as she flitted by. I

shook my head as the conversation drifted to a

lighter subject.             A little bit later after the

guys had calmed down some and decided it was

time to start the food Chris exclaimed that the

steak and burgers were done. I reluctantly got up

and walked over to where everyone else was

standing. “Brayden what do you want?”I asked

turning around to see that Justin was already

getting his plate. “I got it.”Justin said. I just nodded

as I quickly turned around trying to find something

to busy myself with. “Here.”J.C. chuckled as he

handed me a plate. I smiled in thanks and turned

back around to get my food. By then time I was

done getting my food the only place left to sit was

beside Justin, and J.C. and Lynn just sat there

grinning at me. I swear if looks could kill they’d

both be dead right now. I sighed as I sat down and

tried to focus on my food and not Justin. He

seemed to be avoiding me too, but I wasn’t sure if

I was glad for it or more disappointed. I finished

eating and impatiently waited for someone else to

finish also so I had an excuse to get up. Finally

after what seemed like forever Lynn finished and

got up and started to clean up. I immediately

 jumped up and offered to help her. “Sure.”Lynn

smiled as we started to carry things into the house.

Just then Lynn’s phone started ringing. “Oh I have

to take this.” Lynn said “Justin will you come in here

and help Abby clean up?” Lynn yelled out the door

before disappearing into the other room. Justin

sighed knowing he couldn’t tell his mom no and got

up and slowly walked into the house. “Uh…I don’t

really know where anything goes.”I said not looking

up at him. “Yeah I’ll show you.”Justin said walking

over to me. I turned around from putting the plate

of burgers into the fridge and ran right into Justin’s

chest. “You better watch were you’re going.”Justin

smiled down at me as he caught me. “I …uh…

yeah.”I stuttered staring back up at him. We both

just stood there staring at each other until finally

after what seemed like a million years Justin slowly

brought his head down and captured my lips in a

kiss. I slowly reached up wrapping my arms around

his neck as I gave into him and kissed him back

deepening it. A soft moan escaped Justin’s lip as he

slowly pulled back. We stared at each other for a

minute before everything finally registered.

Suddenly Justin let me go backing away from me. “I

….I can’t….I…uh…gotta go.”Justin stuttered as he

turned around and bolted up the stairs leaving me

standing in the kitchen speechless with tears

forming in my eyes.